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Fans revel as Tide flattens Fighting Irish

Alabama fans Evan Tomlinson and Tommy Youngblood celebrate on top of a car parked on the Strip in Tuscaloosa after an Alabama win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the 15th National Championship title on Monday.

Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News

By Kim EatonStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 1:10 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Harold Strachan has seen some great plays in Alabama football over the years, but he said the best part of Monday night's game might have been the halftime interview with Notre Dame's coach.

When asked how to fix things in the second half as the Fighting Irish trailed 28-0, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly could only hope that Alabama would forget to come out for the second half.

“He just gave up,” said Strachan, a 50-year-old Tuscaloosa resident. “The thing to take away from this is, if you're a planner, get your tickets for Pasadena (where the BCS title game will be played after the 2013 season) now. We'll definitely see Alabama there next year.”

The Crimson Tide got its second win in seven meetings with the Fighting Irish, coming out on top during the 2012 BCS

National Championship Game, 42-14.

As the game came to a close, cheers, honking horns and whistles could be heard throughout Tuscaloosa as thousands of fans celebrated back-to-back championship wins. Hundreds of Tide fans flooded the Strip near the UA campus.

Whether at a party, a bar or standing in line at one of several stores that opened immediately after the game to sell championship attire to eager fans, the

Maddox's dad, 38-year-old Chad Carroll, agreed. The historic matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Fighting Irish was a dream of Chad Carroll's dad who died last year.

“He would have loved this. He hated Notre Dame, and Alabama just beat down Notre Dame. To have the No. 1 defense, Notre Dame just didn't bring it,” Chad Carroll said. “Once they couldn't stop (Alabama's) run, they didn't stand a chance. The dynasty is here to stay. Bama isn't going anywhere.”

Northport resident Breana Terry, 23, not only loved that Alabama “slaughtered” Notre Dame but also that the second-string players had a chance to play in the championship game, even if it was for only a few minutes.

“Alabama will definitely be back,” said 53-year-old Tuscaloosa resident Debbie Hathcock. “It's just awesome to be from Alabama and have a winning team and a great coach.”

For Tuscaloosa resident Rickey Giddeon, 36, Alabama football is like no other and its team is one of a kind.

“The tradition, the history, all of the great players and what they mean to the community,” he said. “What is there not to like about Alabama football?”

Matt Bishop, 36, of Pelham, appreciated the historic aspect of the Tide's win.

“Unprecedented. It's legendary — it's never been done before, ” Bishop said referring to Alabama's three-out-of-four consensus national championships in the BCS era.

Tim Greene, 35, of Chelsea said the Tide's success shows that head coach Nick Saban's emphasis on “the process” works.

“I'm most proud to see someone practice what they preach. By that, I mean, Saban talks about setting a goal and being disciplined enough to follow through, and in this day and age you just don't see that on any stage — sports, the business world, anything,” Greene said.

“He's convinced the whole organization, the whole team and all of Alabama's supporters to believe in him and his process,” he said.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Harold Strachan has seen some great plays in Alabama football over the years, but he said the best part of Monday night's game might have been the halftime interview with Notre Dame's coach.</p><p>When asked how to fix things in the second half as the Fighting Irish trailed 28-0, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly could only hope that Alabama would forget to come out for the second half.</p><p>“He just gave up,” said Strachan, a 50-year-old Tuscaloosa resident. “The thing to take away from this is, if you're a planner, get your tickets for Pasadena (where the BCS title game will be played after the 2013 season) now. We'll definitely see Alabama there next year.”</p><p>The Crimson Tide got its second win in seven meetings with the Fighting Irish, coming out on top during the 2012 BCS </p><p>National Championship Game, 42-14. </p><p>As the game came to a close, cheers, honking horns and whistles could be heard throughout Tuscaloosa as thousands of fans celebrated back-to-back championship wins. Hundreds of Tide fans flooded the Strip near the UA campus.</p><p> Whether at a party, a bar or standing in line at one of several stores that opened immediately after the game to sell championship attire to eager fans, the </p><p>excitement and energy were contagious.</p><p>“Alabama is my favoritest team,” said 7-year-old Maddox Carroll of Woodstock. “They're awesome. They can't be beat.”</p><p>Maddox's dad, 38-year-old Chad Carroll, agreed. The historic matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Fighting Irish was a dream of Chad Carroll's dad who died last year.</p><p>“He would have loved this. He hated Notre Dame, and Alabama just beat down Notre Dame. To have the No. 1 defense, Notre Dame just didn't bring it,” Chad Carroll said. “Once they couldn't stop (Alabama's) run, they didn't stand a chance. The dynasty is here to stay. Bama isn't going anywhere.”</p><p>Northport resident Breana Terry, 23, not only loved that Alabama “slaughtered” Notre Dame but also that the second-string players had a chance to play in the championship game, even if it was for only a few minutes. </p><p>“Alabama will definitely be back,” said 53-year-old Tuscaloosa resident Debbie Hathcock. “It's just awesome to be from Alabama and have a winning team and a great coach.”</p><p>For Tuscaloosa resident Rickey Giddeon, 36, Alabama football is like no other and its team is one of a kind.</p><p>“The tradition, the history, all of the great players and what they mean to the community,” he said. “What is there not to like about Alabama football?”</p><p>Matt Bishop, 36, of Pelham, appreciated the historic aspect of the Tide's win.</p><p>“Unprecedented. It's legendary — it's never been done before, ” Bishop said referring to Alabama's three-out-of-four consensus national championships in the BCS era.</p><p>Tim Greene, 35, of Chelsea said the Tide's success shows that head coach Nick Saban's emphasis on “the process” works.</p><p>“I'm most proud to see someone practice what they preach. By that, I mean, Saban talks about setting a goal and being disciplined enough to follow through, and in this day and age you just don't see that on any stage — sports, the business world, anything,” Greene said.</p><p>“He's convinced the whole organization, the whole team and all of Alabama's supporters to believe in him and his process,” he said.</p><p>Staff writers Jason Morton and Brian Reynolds contributed to this report.</p>